Crib



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. S. RECE Aug. 2%, i935.

CRIB

Filed Aug. 25, 1933 2&1 1,909

Aug. 2%, 1935.

F. S. RECE CRIB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25, V 1955 Patented Aug. 20, 1935 v FrankS Rece, Dalla's,-Tex I Y "Application August 25, 1933, sa inmsem roiaims; (o1. '100)-' This invention relates to new and useful .im-

provementsi-n cribsi: i

The invention has particularly to do with cribs for children and especially with the side panels ofsuchcribs. V '7 M I One object of the invention is to provide a side panel of the type which maybe raised orlowered, and slid under the spring; and which is arranged in a new and novel manner whereby said side panel may be manipulated in a narrow space and without the necessity of sliding said panel entirely from under the bottom of the crib before it can be swung to an upright position.

A further object of the invention is to simplify the structure, whereby the side panel may be adjusted and moved to its various positions, as well asmaking for convenience and ease of operation;

A very important object of the invention is to provide a side panel which is arranged to be adjusted vertically, whereby it may be lowered to give access to the side of the crib and also ar ranged to he slid under the spring or bottom of the crib when it is desired toentirely open one side 'ol? the crib. V

sen another object of the invention is a pro- 1 vide efiicient means for locking. the panel in its.

raised and lowered positions.

1 A further object of the invention is to provide 7 an improved latch adapted to beapplied to aside panel of 'a crib, the panel being of the typewhich may be raised and lowered and slid'under'the,

spring, the latch being. so constructed that" the operator may easily slide the panel upwardly with; one hand and thus automatically lock thepanel in its vertical positions. a I Still another object of the inventionis to pr o-..

vide an improved latching means for the side panel of a crib, thepanel being of the type which.

may be raised and lowered and slid underthe spring, the latching means including stop mem- V bers arranged to be engaged by the panel when the same is swung upwardly to a vertical'posi-fl tion, to arrest said panel and position the same so that upon sliding said panel upwardly it will be automatically latched'in a vertical position.

An important object of the invention is to provide an. improved latching means for the swinging side panel of a crib, which includes guide members arranged to be engaged byv keepers,

; whereby inward or outward displacement of the panel is prevented and also whereby the end mem-- bers of the crib are braced when the panel is in a vertical, latchedposition to prevent spreading of said. end members.

1 A construction designed to carry out'the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention. a

The inventionwillbe more readily understood from a reading :of the, following specification and byv reference-to the accompanying drawings in which an {example of the invention is shown, and wherein: r

Figure -1 is a side'elevation of a crib constructed in accordance with the invention, the sideypalnel .beingraised, 1

Figure .2 is a similar view, theside panel being lowered and portions; being shown in section as well as in elevation,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, the movable side panel being omitted, g M

t Figure 4 is a partialtransversevertical sectional view takenjonthe line 4-4 of'Figure 2. a i

. Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,] a Figure dis-anenlarged longitudinal sectiona view taken on theline 6-6 of Figure 1, Figure/7 is an enlarged detail partly in elevation andpartly in section showing/the latch holding the sliding panel init's topmost position,

Figure 8-is an enlarged sectional; view of one of the plungers,

Figure 91s an isometric view of one of the'guide of the invention, i a it Figure 12 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the same, and a a Figure 13 is an isometric view of one of the keeper plates of the alternate form of the invention. a

.In the drawings the numeral Ill designates one end member and H the otherend; member of a,

crib and these members are duplicates. -Each member comprises a vertical corner post l2 and a vertical corner post [3. For the purposes of description, the'post {2 will be called the front post and the post [3 the rear post, forthe reason that the removable 'side panel is generally called the front side of the crib. The posts maybe mounted on casters I4 if desired, so as to make the crib readily portable.

The corner posts I3 are rigidly attachedto a rear side panel l5, whereby the ends of the crib are connected. Each end member has a trans-1' Verse base-plate lfi forming' its bottom and rigidly connecting itslfronta'nd rear corner posts; To the inner sideofeach plateis fastened a trans- ,of securing the end members'together and also for supporting the spring and mattress (not shown). The foregoing description is largely explanatory, as the adjustable side panel may be applied to any crib structure and the invention' is not to be limited to the parts which have been described and illustrated.

A guide strip 19 issecured to the innerv side of the plate It, as is best shown in Figures 3, 4 and b, and extends transversely from the front post to the rear post. This strip co-acts with the bar,

H to form a transverse or horizontal channel or groove 29 on the inner side of each end panel; Each front corner post 12 has formed on its inner side a vertical groove or channel 2| having an en-' larged lateral extension or elbow 22 at its lower contact with the flanges 28.

end, which is directed rearwardly to register with the forward endof'the channel 20; It is obvious that the parts 20, 2| and 22 form a continuous right-angular guidewayor channel.

A front panel 25, which'is substantially a du-' plicate of the rear panel j I5, is provided with trunnions 23 which engage in the channels 20 and 2i and are slidable therein. Thelocation of the trunnions 23 is one'of the-very important features of the invention. In order'to reduce the radius of the are in which the upper or-outer -portion of the side panel 25 is swung, the trunnions should be located adjacent mid height of said panel. However, considerable-variation 'in this location maybe made. The movement-of the trunnions several inches either above or below mid-height of the panel is-contemplated as being adjacent mid-height] Itwillbe noted that the bars i1 (Figure overhang the strips I9 and thus limit the swinging movement of thepanel when the latter is 'in its horizontal position. I

When-it is desired to use-the'panel-25, it is pulled forwardly until the trunnions 23 ride into the elbows 22,-- whereupon the panel may be swung, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. It is pointed out and stressed that,-as'shown, ;it'

is only necessary to slide the panel slightly more than half way from under the crib in order to than is required with the present invention. In

order to permitthe panel to freely swing, the.

lower'forward end of each barl'l maybe rounded. as indicated at 24. .These roundedends also serve as guides or rockers to. hold the trunnions in the elbows 22 while the panel is being swung, but

are not essentialto the invention.

When the trunnions 23 are resting at thebotj toms of the channels?! or in the elbows 22 and the panel .25 isswung to an uprightposition, as shown in fulllines in Figure 4, the panelwill be in its lower position. For locking the panelin its vertical position, I-provideIlatching means,

which include a metal'guide member 25, angu lar in cross-section, mounted vertically on the in her face of each front corner post i 2. Each member includes a longitudinal guide plate 26', which is disposedvertically on the inner side of said post and the front portion of this plate is bent at right, angles thereto to fofrm a longitudinal flange 21." This flang'epverlies the front side of the post and aids in positioning the guide member on said post, when the member is mounted thereon. Flat-headed screws 21', countersunk in the plate 26', hold the member securely in place "the rear edge of the plate; It is obvious that as -the panel 25 is swung upwardly to its lower ver- 'tical position, the rear side of said panel will strike the stop flanges 28,'whereby"further inward displacement of the same is prevented, and itwill be seenthat the panel may be elevated to itsraised or top position and still remain in 3fl,the lower'portion of the plate 29 is offset to forma-keeper :3! for-engaging over the guide flange 28", so that outward displacement of the .panel 25 is prevented during the upward travel of said panel. When' the panel 25 is'swung up- Wardlyfro'in the horizontal position'to a vertical position, thekeeper plates 29 above the keepers 3! (Figured) will strike the lower ends of the stop flanges 28 and the lugs 30 will enter the channels '28, which will prevent further inward movement of the panel and will positionsaid panel so'that it may be slid upwardly. Upon sliding' the panel upwardly, the keepers 3i will engage'over the flanges 28", whereby either inward or outward displacement of the panel will be prevented. When the lugs 30 are engagedin the channels28, they co-act with the panels 'as a brace. to hold-the front portions'of the ends steady, "therebykeeping them from spreading outwardly, l i I For-securely holding the panelin its adjusted positions,a pair of spring-pressedplungers 32 are provided. Each'fplunger islsupport ed within a tubularhousing 33, which extends from the plate zfif thrfil h an opening 34, which latter extends throughthe corner post l2 (Figures 7 and 8). The head of each plunger projects from the guide plate 26 into the path of the panel 25. The plunger has a reduced shank '32 which extends from the head through the rear end of the housing'iforreceiving' a knob 33'. A coiled spring 34 surrounds the shank within the housing.

The upper corners of the panel are bevelled at, 25f, :as' is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. This permits the corners of the panel to be swung against the stop'flange 28 without striking the heads of the plungers. k When the panel has been swung to its vertical position, the keepers will strike the stop flanges 28 and the lugs 35 will engage in the channels .28 and upon sliding the panelupwardly thekeepers3l will receive the lower ends of the flanges 28, as'has beenhereinbefore explained- Further upwardptravel of the panel will cause the bevels 25" to strike the heads of the plungers' 32 and depress said plung ers, thereby permitting the panel to continue its upward travel until the plungers engage notches 35 provided in each side of the-panel near its a-ornoos: r V 3.

top,-.whereby thev paneli'will be:fastened"-iri*its lowered-or dropped'position; L 'Iheibottombf each notch'35 isiibevelled mm clined 'at 36 so that whenit is-ldesired. to raise the panel to its upper. or closed position,":it is only necessary to continue .toiraise thepanel; the inclined faces as engaging and automaticallywde pressing the plungers 32. When the panel reaches its upperxior .closed position the plungers will spring into recesses 3'! provided in the ends of the panel about midway thereof, whereby the panel will be fastened in its closed position.

The simplicity and ease of operation is obvious.

The panel is pulled outwardly fromits horizontal position beneath the crib and swung upwardly.

The keepers 25) will strike the stop flanges 23' and the lugs 36 will engage in the horizontal ehannels 28., This will position thepanel so that upon further upward movement of said panel the keeper ill will engage over the flanges 28' and the bevels 25 will strike the plungers 32, automatically depressing the same and permitting the panel to be raised further until said plungers spring into the notches 35, thereby fasteningthe panel in its dropped or lowered position Upon continued raising of the panel, the inclined bottom. 35 of each notch 35 will again depress the plungers toallow the panelto be slid upwardly until the plungers spring into the recesses 31 in the ends of the panel, to hold said panel in its raised or closed position. To release the panel and lower the same, the operator grasps the knob 3. of each plunger and a slight outward pull will disengage the plungers from they recesses. The weight of the panel will drop the panel to its lowermost-vertical position. i Although I have shown only two vertical positions of the panel .25, it is obvious that any number of positions may be had by providing a desired number of notches, similar to the notches ill, in the ends of thepanel. As the panel is raised the plungers 32 would engage in the different notches, therebygiving a plurality-of vertical positions.

In Figures ll, 12 and 13, I have shown another form of the invention wherein the panel 25 is of the same construction and the-plungers 32 o'perate in the same'way. In place of the guide members 26 I substitute guide members 46 (Figure 11). Each member All includes a longitudinal guide plate Mi and is provided with a longitudinal channel li, similar to the channel 28 of each member 26, and a longitudinal stop flange 41' similar to the flange 28 at its rear portion. The

forward portion of the plate 40" is bent at right angles thereto to form an inwardly extending longitudinal flange 42. This flange 52' terminates short of the bottom of the plate 40', as is clearly shown in Figure 11.

At each upper corner on the end of each panel, I mount keepers Each keeper includes a rearwardly extending lug M and a forwardly extending lug t5; 'As the panel 251s swung to a vertical position from beneath 'the crib, the beveled corners Eli ofthe panel willpermit said panel to clear the shortened forward flangesAZ and strike the stop flanges ll. As the panel strikes said flanges the rearwardly extending lugs 44 of each keeper engage in the channels. Upon raising the panel the forwardly extending lugs 35 will ride against the inner faces of the flanges t2 and it is obvious that by this arrangement the panel is positioned so as to engage the plungers 32. The engagement of the lugs 44 with the channels prevent inward or outwardsdisplacementwof: the panel :iandalso serve to brace the front. portions of the ;,end sections got: the .erib, f

thereby}.-pr'eventingv spreading. of the same; i This application is a continuation in part of my original application.SerialNo.v 586,866, filed January.

1932. f 1 .1 '5; The; description which :has been given recites more; or less detailv .of J a particular embodiment ofwthfe invention; which is setforth,- as newand useful, however, I desire it understood that the,

1. In a crib, the combination with end members having right-angular channels, of a side panel having trunnions adjacent mid-height thereof and engaging in said channels,-means overhanging'the horizontal portions of the channels for retaining the side panel in a horizontal position, and latching means mounted on the end members for engagement with the sliding panel for fastening it'in its elevated positions.

2.' Ina crib, end members, a side panel mounted to slide vertically on said end members, an elongated plate on each end member, the plate having a guide channel therealong and having a stop flangedisposedlongitudinally thereof, and a keeper plate at each upper corner of the panel including a keeper for engaging the flange and a projection'for engaging in the channel, whereby the panel is held against either inward or outward ing'upwardly from the front ends of said horizontal guides, an upright rear panel extending between and attached'to the rear sides of the end .members. a movable side panel having-at each end a single pivot. intermediate its top and bottom freely slidable in the guides, whereby said panel may beraised and lowered and maintained in a vertical plane while said pivots are sliding in the vertical guides and said end members are stationary, and also whereby said panel may be less than its height and slid horizontally between said end members while said pivots are sliding in vertical positions, and co-acting means carried by the panel and the end members and'separate from the fastening means for holding the panel against swung in an are having a radius considerably swinging from its vertical plane and for preventing spreading of the end members when said panel,

is fastened in its raised and lowered positions.

4. A crib comprising,self supporting end members having horizontal guides extending across their inner sides, said members having elongated members, a movable side-panel having at each end a single pivot intermediate its top and bottom freely slidable'in the guides, whereby said: panel vertical plane while saidpivots are sliding in the -may be raised and lowered and maintained in a vertical guides and said-end members are stationary, and also whereby said panel may be swung in an are havinga radius considerably less 1 than its height and slid horizontally between said end members while said pivots are sliding in said horizontal guides and said end members are self supported and stationary, means for fastening the side panel in either its raised or its lowered vertical positions, elongated plates mounted ver- FRANK S. RECE. 

